Leg vein treatments at Castleknock Cosmetic Clinic Dublin

Leg Veins | Castleknock Cosmetic Clinic Dublin

Leg Thread Veins

Spider veins are small, thin capillaries that lie close to the surface of the skin. They are connected to a larger venous system, though they are not an essential part of it since they do not actually carry blood to the heart. While spider veins and flushed skin don’t usually indicate a major medical problem, most people would be happy to be rid of them. Unfortunately, spider veins won’t disappear on their own, but advanced treatment at Castleknock Cosmetic Clinic Dublin is available to easily and safely remove them.

Causes of Spider Veins

Spider veins form when excess blood backs up in the blood stream. The excess blood creates pressure. The body releases the pressure by creating new veins on the skin’s surface. At the cosmetic clinic Dublin we see the primary problem with spider veins is their unsightly appearance, but they can also cause aching, swelling, burning. People within certain ethic groups are often more prone to spider veins, so heredity certainly plays a role. So can hormone therapy and oral contraceptives. Aging related to sun damage is also a big contributor. Ultraviolet light exposure is one of the more controllable factors in preventing facial veins, so avoiding the sun and using sunscreen is recommended. Facial veins and flushed skin are also commonly seen with rosacea, a chronic but treatable skin condition.

Variants of Thread Veins

Red Veins

Spider Veins

Blue Veins

Treatment

Sclerotherapy

In the majority of cases we see at Castleknock Cosmetic Clinic Dublin the remedy lies in a procedure called “sclerotherapy” is used to treat surface / spider veins. The procedure involves injecting a solution, called a sclerosing solution, directly into the blood vessel with a very fine needle. Sclerotherapy has been used for spider veins since the 1930’s. There are two types of solution used “Fibrovein” and “Polidocanol”. They are solutions specifically manufactured for sclerotherapy. Both are rapidly broken down after contact with the vein wall and so do not circulate through the body as an active solution. The solution irritates the lining of the vessel causing it to swell and stick together. Over a period of weeks the vessel fades from view usually completely.

Depending on its size, a single blood vessel may have to be injected more than once. In each treatment session many vessels are injected but involve minimal discomfort because of the tiny diameter of the needles. Some injections give a feeling like a bull-ant bite. Because larger veins (reticular veins) are often associated with spider veins these vessels must be treated first and the smaller “spider” veins are then usually treated 4 weeks later.

Following treatment sessions you will be required to wear a special venous compression stocking to assist in sealing off the abnormal veins. The length of time that the stocking will be required to be worn varies from 7 – 14 days. Compression minimises the formation of bruising and pigmentation, and reduces the number of treatments necessary, reduces the risk of deep venous thrombosis and reduces the possibility of recurrence.

Laser Treatment

Laser treatment for spider and reticular leg veins with is a technology that uses a 1064nm wavelength laser to send energy into the blood and vessel walls, where it is absorbed by haemoglobin. The haemoglobin is heated by the absorption of energy, and the vessel coagulates and closes off. The constricted vessel then degenerates, and the leg vein will no longer be visible from the surface of the skin.

Despite much publicity suggesting laser treatment for leg veins, Dr Hazem Kahlout still believes that injection sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice and reserves the more expensive and less reliable laser treatment of leg veins for those very difficult vessels which may not respond to sclerotherapy.

Leg spider veins usually require more than one treatment, and treatment is best carried out when the patient is not planning sun exposure.